Justin and Husband Phil Adopt Son

A Video Blog

By Justin B. Terry-Smith

February 2, 2014

ADOPTION DAY is finally here. On January 30th my husband Dr. Philip Terry-Smith adopted our 17 year old LGBT son.

When I became HIV positive I thought to myself, "I will never have a child." I cried so much over this every time I thought about it. Every time I saw children with their parent playing, walking hand in hand, giggling, just being a family, it hurt, it hurt me to my soul.

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When my husband asked me to marry him, I said yes but I have provisions. I stated that I would like to have children. I made a command decision in my life that I would have kids. I also said that I need a man that would want to have children with me. My husband (THANK THE GODS) agreed that children would be a part of our future.

I can honestly say our son has come such a long way being with us. When he first came to us he was 15 years old. He was not what I expected a 15 year old to be. But then I had to realize I did not raise this child; so I made it my goal to make him a little more refined and to bring more structure and discipline into his life. He has a story and Im not the one to tell it. So I will briefly say that this young man has been through the ringer. But now that he has a loving and supportive family he is stronger than before.

Phil, my son and I went to court and we have legally made him ours. He will forever be ours and I wouldnt want it any other way.

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Justin B. Terry-Smith, M.P.H., may be one of the most public African Americans living with HIV: He has his own website, and he's even on YouTube. He is a noted HIV and gay civil rights activist and the creator of "Justin's HIV Journal," a popular blog in which he shares his trials and tribulations of living with HIV. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Justin resides in Laurel, Maryland, with his husband, Dr. Philip Terry-Smith, and their son, Lundyn. Presently, Justin is working toward earning his doctorate in public health. He welcomes your questions.
(Photo credit: Don Harris)

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